This whole DP saga is silly and getting really old. All the negative points people bring up about dale's cues is actually irrelevant. If anyone bithced at me for changing MY business model to better suit MY goals by offering a better value to clients I would seriously question thier intelect.
Made a bad investment? Fell on the wrong side of the supply curve? Oh well! If the oppisite were true and you made a profit because he raised his price would you call him out to return some of that money to him? And, those that liked the cue at 1500 bucks should really love it at 200. NO?
Fact: Dale makes one of the best sub $200 cues. Period.
Fact: Dale, by and large, has shown great customer service
Let's fault him and other's that sell his cues in the secondary market for it. That makes sense.
Now, the main gripe is that he undercut his dealers. I see a lot of people complaining but how many of you actually were in the business of flipping his cues? I would guess 3 of you, maybe 5. Yet you assert he has dammed the entire pool community. Moreso, I do not see those "dealers" bashing him like the rest of you do. Interesting.
Let us look at it on one last view. Let us rewind about 7 years ago to pre-ebay days. Let's say dale is sitting around thinking I got debt, I need to support my family, and I need to think about my future. Geez, health insurance for my family is $1,000 a month alone. But you know what, I really love what I do. I love making cues and I don't want to do anything else.
I think you follow me so far....
Then a consultant walks in and says, "Dale, I have studies your books. I have analyzed your business model and I found away for you to increase profits my 100%. You can now afford to pay for Health Insurance, support your family, pay off debts, and save for retirement. All you need to do is stop using exotic components, cut out the middle man, hire and train less expensive labor, produce more cues, and lower your prices dramaticlly".
"you mean I could sell great hitting cues at a lower price, put these into more hands, and be better off financially"?
Yes! But there is a catch. A few people on a internet pool forum will b#tch and complain about it.
Grow the F up people!!!!!!!!!!!!!